There aren’t many things in this world more awe-inducing and stunning than a carefully woven set of balayage highlights. That’s why when they’re finally on your head, you want to take care of them like the precious babies that they are. We can imagine your dismay when brassiness befalls your pride and joy, leaving you frustrated and resentful towards your stylist, yourself, maybe even the world. You’re probably thinking you’ll have to get your hair done all over again (for real?). The good news is that if you want to fix brassy highlights, you may be able to avoid a trip to the salon altogether – here’s how.
Try a purple shampoo.
Everyone raves about this stuff for a reason…it actually works! Purple shampoo is widely known as the best instant toner for brassy highlights that’s managed to become yellow through your water, sunlight, product, etc. A few of these even help to hydrate and soften your strands in the process of getting them to the color you want, such as the Paul Mitchell Blonde Platinum Blonde Shampoo or Kava Sea Lights Shampoo.
Repair your hair.
Often when lightening your hair, it ends up becoming more porous and damaged, and therefore more prone to brassiness. Try to use a reparative conditioning mask at home once every week or so until it’s back to the healthy state you want (careful not to overuse or you run the risk of adding too much protein).
Say bye bye to brassy hair with the Brassy Hair Kit.
Switch to color protective products.
Because using too much purple shampoo can have the opposite effect on your hair, you'll want to balance out your showers with something preservative that will lock your color in place rather than change it. A color care shampoo and conditioner should do the trick just fine (one with moisture is a super bonus).
Use a shower filter.
Unfortunately, most of the time, there's a lot in our water that affects the quality and color of your skin and hair. Iron specifically can make your color fade and add a reddish, brassy hue to your highlights. Try using a clarifying shampoo and then installing a nice water filter - pinky promise you'll notice a difference in your shower experience.
Use a toner.
Toner is a demi permanent color, and is one of the best kept secrets in the battle against brass. It helps to limit the yellow tones, though it won’t correct your base shade…meaning if your color is too brassy to begin with, it’s not going to help very much. You can do this at home if you’d prefer to avoid another visit to your stylist, but make sure you use the correct toner for brassy hair when attempting on your own. Bear in mind that this is a temporary fix, and you may need to reapply in a few weeks as the color fades. And remember, if you're unsure how to fix brassy hair, never hesitate to ask your stylist for tips - it's their job, after all!
